Opinions

Calgary’s historic Chinatown to face changes Calgary’s Chinatown, and Chinatowns in general, are often viewed as being disparate, something not altogether a part of the city surrounding it. So, recent news that, despite the community’s protests, a development application for three new towers has been passed by the city might …

Considering the feasibility of paid menstrual leave At just 11 years old, I had awoken to a visit from dear Aunt Flo. Nobody had warned me about what a savage she was. I felt soggy, dirty, bloated and sick. The pain was like something was trying to claw its way …

The unfortunate reality of media bias The journalist’s job is to keep readers interested so they’ll read a newspaper from front to back and look at all of the advertisements. However, unintentional bias can seep through. Make no mistake: journalists do their best to try to keep you interested in …

Carbon levy rebates met with confusion Alberta’s carbon levy came into effect on Jan. 1, and the first batch of rebates has been issued with little fanfare. Some friends and I were talking about receiving the rebates and how it would be a great bonus at the start of the …

Check the source of your coffee beans As the poor, hungry and sleep-deprived students that we are, there is always one instrument we can rely on to get ourselves to tomorrow, and hopefully, convocation: coffee. However, there’s more to the life-saving liquid than the obvious pick-me-up effects we rely on. …

Impact of climate change on human health For years, medical professionals have been telling the populace to take care of their health and for good reason. We brush our teeth to avoid tooth decay, we take antibiotics to inhibit the growth of infections and we eat healthy to keep the …

What we have here is a failure to communicate Languages change over time, and obviously, English is no exception. Anyone who has tried to read Beowulf in its original form can attest to this. But recently, it seems that language is changing in a way that makes our communication shallower. …

Serving staff deserve higher wages Over the last few years, the big craze in the workplace has been something called gamification, and it is exactly what it sounds like. The idea is that employees will be more motivated and will enjoy their work more if it gets made into a …

What having a diploma from SAIT means If you’re reading this, it means you’ve made the right decision in terms of your education. Whether this is your first semester at SAIT or your last, it’s no question that something has brought you here, and it’s our school’s reputation. Throughout my …

Removing the stigma surrounding tattoo culture In our world of bright colours and reality television, people have been brainwashed to see anything considered outside of the ordinary as strange or even incorrect. But, as time moves on, so do society’s archaic views. As recently as a decade ago you would …

Supporting an uncertain future Just the other day, a man said to me that, although he rides the train to work every day, he never pays for a transit pass. His reasoning, he said, was that he only gets checked by peace officers every few months and that the occasional …

The truth behind charity canvassers At one time or another, everyone has encountered a donation canvasser standing on the street corner asking for a moment of your time and, perhaps, some money. Most people find a way to manoeuvre around canvassers, or they play with their phones and avoid eye …

Why Alberta shouldn’t scrap the carbon tax The earth is rapidly heating up, and a carbon tax is the best way to help combat the climate change crisis. Based on the first nine months of this year, the earth is about to set another record: 2016 will be the warmest …

How the Bridge stole Christmas Christmas is a time of giving, a time to show how much your friends and family mean to you and a time to grovel to our corporate overlords. Basically, it’s a time for suckers. As a nation, we collectively go off our gourd. We bust …

Antiquated protocols to blame for blood shortage We’ve all heard it on the radio, like clockwork every winter, Canadian Blood Service’s (CBS) urgent call for blood donations. But if the agency is so desperate, why are they excluding so many potential donors? Imagine my surprise when I asked a co-worker …

Calgary city council descends into madness Politics in Alberta is becoming a toxic sideshow, with politicians more concerned with a catchy quote than serving the people. Calgary is no exception. On Nov. 7, Larry Heather was ejected from city council chambers for contributing to the continued loss of decorum in …

Your olive oil likely wasn’t made from olives Imagine you’re a craftsperson who put your life’s work into creating a beautiful piece that everyone can enjoy. Not only have you spent time cultivating the idea, but you’ve also put your blood, sweat and tears into its creation. After numerous long …

Navigating tension respectfully In a world where ideologies are colliding more than ever before, tolerance is the approach to take when you encounter opinions that conflict with your own. The United States presidential election, the United Kingdom’s Brexit and far-right and left movements across the globe show that extremism in …

The war on final exams The end of the semester is hot on our heels and for a lot of SAIT students, this means itís time to start studying for exams. Although SAIT focuses on providing a hands-on, practical education, a number of the courses and programs it provides still …

The movement behind Movember The weather in Calgary may be getting colder, but that’s not why men are starting to cover their upper lips with moustaches. “Movember is great. It helps raise a ton of money for men’s health. I am not sure if everyone that participates really knows what’s …